'Schools are doing their best' - Your Letters: February 25

SCHOOLING IS NOT TO BE BLAMED

I would like to respond to the letter written by G W Beard of Norton regarding extending the school day. I am horrified that this person feels that young people hanging around in bus stops causing trouble is down to lack of schooling! 

Having worked in education for nearly 13 years I can assure you the hours of schooling a child receives in a school day either match or exceed your statement. Unfortunately, due to the past Conservative government many services have been reduced and stripped back and barely touch the sides to support young people, children and their families. Community and Sure Start hubs are a thing of the past, being able to go to health visitor drop ins are few and far between, youth clubs are pretty well none existent. Many clubs these days aren't without cost - if you are from a low income family it's not going to be a priority or something you can afford to send your young person to.

Schools are doing their best to counteract this issue by providing free school meals, giving pastoral and family support, providing free after school clubs - mostly run by staff that don't get any extra pay for it. There's additional support in school for those that struggle. But given the state of the country with so many spending cuts young people, children and their families unfortunately start life out at a disadvantage.

So, please don't think that this issue to purely down to the length of the school day there is a much larger picture here.

N Mason, West Midlands